PHA-Exchange> Letter to The Lancet re. DG WHO election (3)

[Aviva]

From: "Sarah Ramsay" <Sarah.Ramsay at lancet.com>

> WHO Director-General elections
> ------------------------------
> 
> I'd like to draw attention to the debate surrounding the election of 
> a new Director-General for the World Health Organization (see commen-
> tary below). At The Lancet, we have set up a special area of the web-
> site to track coverage of this important event (www.thelancet.com). 
> In addition, we invite everyone to e-mail their views on the future 
> of WHO and global health to <whodg at lancet.com>. These messages will 
> be posted on the website each week.
> 
> Sarah Ramsay
> Senior Editor
> The Lancet
> London, UK
> mailto:Sarah.Ramsay at lancet.com
 

> WHO Director-General elections -- join The Lancet debate
> 
> On Aug 23 this year, WHO Director-General, Gro Harlem Brundtland 
> shook the international health community by announcing her decision 
> not to stand for a second term of office. The assumption that 
> Brundtland would stay on as head of the United Nations health agency 
> had been so strong that even her closest colleagues at the Geneva 
> headquarters were taken aback. 
> 
> In the past 4 years, Brundtland has changed WHO from the public 
> health agency "where good ideas go to die" to a force that is moving 
> health, especially the health of the poorest people in the world, up 
> the international political agenda. Brundtland's reforms have not 
> been without criticism, but few would dispute that she has made an 
> indelible mark on the global health. The work that she has started is 
> very much still in progress, and a strong and capable successor is 
> essential to ensure that the reconfiguration of the world's premier 
> health agency continues. 
> 
> During the next few months, The Lancet will be covering the election 
> campaign in depth, starting with a Special Report this week summaris-
> ing WHO's structure and electoral process. In addition, we want to 
> foster greater debate about the direction of global health in the 
> 21st century and WHO's role in steering the best course. To start 
> that debate, we invite readers to send in their comments:
whodg at lancet.com
> 
> All messages sent to this address will be posted on our website each 
> week. Those individuals with the privilege of electing the next Di-
> rector-General of WHO also carry a great responsibility -- we hope 
> that our coverage and your comments can help inform their decision.